( 60 ) 



plained to, and underftood by the Mexicans, who promifed that they 

 would relate all they had feen and heard to their fovereign. He alfo de- 

 clared to them, that amongfl the principal objedls of our miiTion thither, 

 were, thofe of putting a flop to human facrifices, injuftices, and idola- 

 trous worfhip J and then, prefenting them with an image of our Holy 

 Virgin with her fon in her arms, he defired them to take it with them, 

 to venerate it, and to plant crofles fimilar to that before them in their 

 temples. 



A number of articles of gold were now brought in order to barter 

 by the natives, and with this we paid for the provifions, principally 

 filh, which we could procure; this was our only prcfent refource 

 againft abfolute want ; we were moftly provided with thofe toys which 

 were in requeft among the Indians, and with them we procured the 

 gold, which as foon as obtained was paid to our fifhermen, who were 

 chiefly the mariners of the fleet. - Cortes well knew of this private 

 trade, nor did it aflFord him diffatisfa^lion, as he confldered it a fur- 

 therance of his views, though he concealed his mind upon the 

 fubje(5l. 



The partizans of Velafquez however began now to grow jealous 

 at this practice, and demanded Cortes to make fuch regulations as 

 fhould bring all the gold which had been, or was in future to be pur- 

 chafed, into one common flock, under the care of a treafurer. To this 

 Cortes confented, and named for the purpofe one Gonzalo Mexia. He 

 then tujned to thofe who had made the application and with an angry 

 countenance faid, '* Look you gentlemen ! Our companions fufler under 

 '* want; I therefore thought it prudent to connive at what was doing ; 

 •* all they obtained amounts to a mere trifle, with the blefllng of God 

 ** we have great and fplendid profped:s before us; it is now proclaimed, 

 *• as you have defired ; fee if the foldiers will in future be able to pro- 

 *♦ cure food." It is upon this tranfadion that Gomara relates, that it 

 was done as a piece of art by Cortes, to induce Montezuma to think 

 that gold was no obje<5l with the Spaniards ; but the application for the 



cafque 



